Has the vet recommended Prozac for your dog and you now want to stop it, since he is doing better? Read about how to wean a dog off Prozac, because stopping it suddenly can be very dangerous.
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Just like humans, dogs don’t like to get separated from their loved ones. Separation anxiety is one of the biggest problems that most pet owners deal with after bringing a pet dog home. Dogs can also suffer from depression and OCDs just like humans.
Prozac is one of the most popular drugs for treating anxiety and depression-related issues in dogs. Vets have been administering Prozac for over a decade. However, one common problem that dog parents face is that when the dog starts to become more normal and active, it is difficult to wean him off Prozac.
Prozac is a long-term medication that should not be stopped all of a sudden because it can have adverse consequences on the dog’s health. In this article, we will walk you through the steps you can wean your dog off Prozac.
What is Prozac?
Prozac is a brand of medicine that contains Fluoxetine. It is a drug that is used for anxiety and depression-related issues. Nearly 10% of all dogs in America are on anxiety-related medication.
Prozac is an FDA-approved drug for anxiety and depression-related issues. But just like any other medication Prozac also has its own set of disadvantages. The most common side effects seen in a dog’s body caused by Prozac include drowsiness and a decrease in the amount of appetite.
How to Wean a Dog off Prozac?
Prozac takes time to show its effects in your pet friend’s body, and if you stop giving your dog the medication all of a sudden, then the following symptoms can appear in your dog’s body.
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Body Shaking
- Body aches, especially the muscles.
This is why it is best to wean your dog off Prozac slowly and in stages. Below I am sharing a step by step guide of what you should do:
Consult Your Vet
If you feel that you need to stop giving your dog Prozac, consult your vet first, as the doctor can monitor the condition of your pet to prevent any kind of drug withdrawal symptoms.
You can also talk to the vet regarding giving CBD oil to the dog to wean off of medicines. In most cases, CBD oil is highly effective. So your vet can help you with it.
Besides helping your dog get off the medications it also has several other benefits for your dog. However, you must go for organic CBD oil as it is safer for them.
Stay Calm
When your dog comes off a medication like Prozac, his or her body might show some changes that require your care and attention at all times.
But it’s also important to note that if you start becoming afraid of these symptoms, it will rub off on your dog as well. So, stay calm and behave normally with your dog for your pet’s mental wellbeing.
Decreasing The Dosage
After consulting with the veterinary clinic, you need to reduce dosage in a phased manner.
- First decrease the original dose to half for four weeks.
- If your dog shows no abnormality, then halve the dose again after the same amount of time.
- Finally, after 8 weeks, your dog should be able to give up Prozac completely.
Monitoring
Monitoring is essential throughout the weaning process. If you notice any unusual behavior, such as anxiety, nausea, dizziness, and others, report to the veterinary clinic immediately.
Regular Exercise
Throughout the weaning process and even after getting rid of the medication fully, you need to make your dog exercise, as a good amount of proper exercise will help your dog recover fully.
Common Problems Caused by Medications
First, you need to know the problems that can appear in a dog’s body before starting the weaning process.
- Behavioral Changes: If a medication leaves a negative impact on your dog’s body, it might affect the behavior of animals. Some of the most notable behavioral changes include an increase in barking, getting irritated more often, and a few others.
- Change in the Rate of Metabolism: When the food items are metabolized in the body of your canine friend, it will produce the energy required for him or her to function properly throughout the day. This slow metabolism eventually makes your dog lethargic, and you will notice that he or she is having trouble walking, running, and all other daily activities. Medications deeply affect the metabolism in the dog’s body.
- Vomiting: All the medications your dog is consuming orally will end up in its stomach. Certain medications can cause a queasy stomach in the dog’s body, which will lead to vomiting.
- Diarrhea: Diarrhoea is another common problem that several dog owners have witnessed in their dog’s body after the dog started to take medicine, primarily antibiotics. Taking antibiotics for a prolonged period can irritate the gastrointestinal system in a dog’s body, leading to diarrhea.
- Ulcers: In some dogs, medicines that contain steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs can cause ulcers in the stomach. This happens because these drugs or steroids make the gastrointestinal tract more sensitive than usual.
- Skin Irritation: Allergy is another common side effect of medication. You might notice that your dog is scratching the skin more often than usual after being put under medication.
How to Know When to Wean a Dog?
Medications can sometimes become burdens. Here are some signs that you should watch out for if your dog is on medications:
Lack of Energy
Some of the medications make the dog feel tired, which can lead to lethargy. You will see that your dog shows unwillingness in his or her regular activities.
Presence of Seizures
The development of seizures in your dog’s body is a big indication that you need to stop giving the medicine that you are giving to your dog.
Change in Eating and Drinking Habits
You might notice changes in the eating and drinking habits in your pet friend’s body. This change in appetite means that your dog will receive fewer nutrients and water.
Can I Wean My Dog Off Proin?
Phenylpropanolamine, popularly known as Proin, is an FDA verified drug to treat urinary dysfunction in animals and humans.
Incontinence happens because of deformities in the sphincter muscle and disintegrated bladder. If your dog is dealing with incontinence, it will not stop voluntary urinary reflexes.
Proin is a widely used medication to increase muscle mass and treat urethral infections. It helps to relieve neurotransmitters in the dog’s urinary system, which allows them to hold their urine longer.
Before discussing the weaning process, you should know some facts related to Proin.
Long Term Medication
Proin is a long-term medication. If you wean your dog off Proin suddenly, then the biggest problem that your dog will face is that the incontinence will return, and all the effort and discipline shown in taking Proin so far will go to waste.
Potential Side Effects
Secondly, Proin is not a cure but rather a temporary solution. Therefore, while you can slowly stop giving Proin after six months, you might start to see the leakage come back once the drug is stopped. Proin can also damage the neurological system of the dog and cause excess thirst, which is why it is best not to use Proin for a very long term.
Alternatives
There are several natural remedies that also help your dog in dealing with urinary incontinence, and are likely to have longer-lasting effects than Proin. Some of these include marshmallows, horsetail, plantains, Uva Ursi, Raspberry leaves, and Yarrow.
Weaning Process
The weaning process for Proin is similar to that of Prozac, just reduce the dosage by half, monitor for 3-4 weeks, and then reduce it by half again. Following are the side effects that may develop in your dog’s body if you stop giving your dog Proin abruptly.
- Anxiety
- Decreased body mass
- Hypertension
- Increased thirst
- Vomiting
Other than that, more serious health issues such as blood in urine, and liver failure can also happen if your dog is suddenly weaned off Proin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just stop giving my dog fluoxetine?
No, it may cause several adverse effects such as aggression and hypersalivation.
No, you should not stop giving Fluoxetine to your dog all of a sudden without consulting with your veterinary clinic. Serious side effects such as aggressive behavior hypersalivation can occur in your dog because of this abrupt medication stop.
How long does it take to wean off Prozac?
Typically it takes about 8 weeks
Almost all medicines like Prozac can be weaned off in an approximate time of 4 weeks. Practically your dog will take 6 to 8 weeks to completely wean off Prozac without any side effects.
How long can a dog stay on Prozac?
There is no real time limit, as long as your vet continues to recommend it, you can use Prozac.
Prozac takes time to show its effects on a dog’s body. Usually, veterinary clinics recommend that a dog stay under medication for at least four weeks and a maximum of 8 weeks, depending on the severity of the illness it is dealing with.
What are the side effects of stopping Prozac?
Just like any other medication that helps your dog to deal with separation anxiety issues, Prozac also has its own sets of side effects such as
Getting irritated
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness and others.
Final Words
The bottom line is you should take things slowly and never stop giving medication like Prozac to your dog abruptly without consulting the veterinary clinic as this can cause serious health issues in your dog’s body.
Thank you for reading, we hope this information will help you wean your dog off these drugs without any complications. You might also like to read about other dog medicines such as Frontline and Bactine.